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Chapter 11: Sustaining Biodiversity-The Species Approach

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Chapter 11: Sustaining Biodiversity-The Species Approach November 19, 2014 Chapter 11: Sustaining Biodiversity-The Species Approach • PASSENGER PIGEON > Uncontrolled commercial hunting > Habitat loss (farms and cities) > Behavior made them easy to hunt > Only lay 1 egg per nest each year November 19, 2014 Three Types of Species Extinction • Local extinction: Species no longer found in an area it once inhabited, but still found elsewhere in the world. > Often involves losses of one or more populations of species. Why?? • Ecological extinction: So few left that no longer fulfill ecological role. • Biological extinction: No longer found anywhere on earth. (Is it forever?) November 19, 2014 Endangered v. Threatened Species • Endangered species: so few individual survivors that species could soon become extinct over all or most of its natural range • Threatened species (vulnerable species): still abundant in natural range but declining numbers and is likely to become endangered in the near future. November 19, 2014 Characteristics of species that are vulnerable to extinction: "The first animal species to go are the big, the slow, the tasty, and those with valuable parts such as tusks and skins". -Edward O. Wilson Behavioral characteristics • Nesting in large flocks • Key deer November 19, 2014 Human activities threaten many species with premature extinction • Data below shows percentage of species threatened with premature extinction as a result of human activities. • Why are so many species of fish, particularly freshwater species, threatened? November 19, 2014 Estimating extinction rates • Estimating extinction rates is useful but difficult • 3 problems: > Extinction takes a long time: Not easy to document > Only 1.4 million of 4-100 million species known > Know little about most of species that have been identified. November 19, 2014 Estimating extinction rates Methods: 1. Compare fossil records of extinction with current rates of extinction since humans have arrived > Underestimate: World's threatened species published in Red List. Only assessed known species, not all species on earth. http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/news/120501_habitatloss November 19, 2014 Estimating extinction rates Methods: 1. Compare fossil records of extinction with current rates of extinction since humans have arrived. 2. Species-area relationship: observe how # of species present increases with size of area > On average, 90% habitat loss = 50% species loss > Theory of island biogeography > Applied to "islands" of habitat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SAR%28Species-area_curve%29.gif November 19, 2014 Estimating extinction rates Methods: 1. Compare fossil records of extinction with current rates of extinction since humans have arrived. 2. Species-area relationship: observe how # of species present increases with size of area 3. Models to estimate risk based on factors: > Population size > Habitat availability > Interactions with other species > Genetic factors November 19, 2014 Impact of human activities on extinction rates • Estimating extinction rates is difficult and current methods are inadequate > regardless of estimate, it is clear that human activity has increased rate of extinction. Rate is increasing. • Natural extinction rate before humans: 1 species per million species on earth (0.0001% per year) > Current rate w/human: 0.01%-1% per year November 19, 2014 Impact of human activities on extinction rates • 0.01-1% is a conservative estimate > Rate of species loss and biodiversity loss will increase because of projected human pop. growth > Rates higher in hot spots than global average > Humans are eliminating, degrading, and simplifying environments that serve as sites for speciation *speciation crisis • *May increase speciation for r-selected species. > May result in erosion in variety of species but not number of species? November 19, 2014 Importance of Wild Species • Mass extinctions have occurred in the past. Why are we so concerned about it now? • It will take 5 million years for natural speciation to rebuild the biodiversity humans destroy during this century. > Unlikely that effects of human population on biodiversity will be reduced (or stop) at any point. November 19, 2014 Importance of Wild Species • Instrumental value: usefulness > Ecological services – ex: bats > Economic services – Food and other resources > Bioprospecting > Genetic information (evolution and genetic engineering) > Recreation > Ecotourism – Pros: $ into local economy, education about nature – Cons: Disruption to nature November 19, 2014 Importance of Wild Species • Intrinsic value and existence value > Ethical responsibility to protect species > Biophilia: affinity for other living things – plants v. animals – pests v. other organisms? – don't forget microorganisms! Huge ecological roles that are invisible to people. November 19, 2014 HIPPO! Causes of premature extinction * H: I: P: P: O: November 19, 2014 Habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation is the greatest threat to wild species. 1. deforestation of tropical rain forest 2. degradation of coral reefs and wetlands 3. plowing of grasslands 4. pollution of streams, lakes, oceans • Temperate biomes more affected than tropical biomes because of economic development in temperate countries. • Shift to tropical biomes http://www.bio.miami.edu/ecosummer/lectures/lec_biomes.html November 19, 2014 Island species, endemic species, and habitat islands • Endemic species: species found only in one place • Habitat islands: Any habitat surrounded by a different one. Encircled on edge by human activities that endanger ecosystems > national parks, nature reserves > freshwater lakes November 19, 2014 Island species, endemic species, and habitat islands • Habitat fragmentation: large area reduced in area, divided into habitat islands > block migration routes > divide populations into isolated groups (*genetics!) – more vulnerable to predators, competitive species, storms/fire > limit ability to expand population > limit resources November 19, 2014 What kinds of species are vulnerable to extinction because of habitat fragmentation? • rare • need to roam • low reproductive capacity • specialized niche • valuable to humans http://gdb.voanews.com/320C67AA-7AD8-4908-B4EB-1DD43140249B_mw1024_n_s.jpg http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/gallery/132_b.jpg November 19, 2014 Case Study: Birds • 70% of world's 9775 species of birds are declining, 1/8 threatened • Why? 1. Forests are the most affected by human activities. > 3/4 bird species live in forests > deforestation > lumber > palm plantation (Indonesia) > farms/ranches (Brazil) Birds are important: • Control populations of rodents and insects • Pollinators • Spread seeds November 19, 2014 2. Introduction of nonnative species 3. Capture for pets 4. Death associated with fishing 5. Loss of wetlands http://www.dfw.state.or.us/news/images/pre-2008/Mallard_Fishing_Line.jpg 6. Collision with power lines, towers (1 million / year in US from glass windows) 7. Oil spill, pesticides, herbicides, lead pellets and sinkers 8.*Climate change • Environmental indicators http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/whatis.htm • Live in every climate, biome, easy to track, respond quickly to changes November 19, 2014 Ivory-billed woodpecker • Thought to be extinct • Sighted in Arkansas 2005 http://audubon.nyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IvoryBilledWoodpeckerDamage.jpg November 19, 2014 Invasive Species • 2nd biggest cause of prelature extinction after habitat loss and degradation • Beneficial invasive species > food, shelter, medicine, aesthetic • Harmful invasive species > no natural predators, competitors, parasites, or pathogens > cause ecological disruption > threaten ~50% endangered and threatened species in US, 95% in Hawaii November 19, 2014 Invasive Species • Deliberately introduced > lots of food crops, animals, things that are useful > European wild boar roams FLorida, other states and competes for food, roots up fields, cause traffic accidents • Accidentally introduced > Increased w/global trade > Can hitchhike on imported products, ballast water, tires, etc. November 19, 2014 November 19, 2014 November 19, 2014 Additional causes of premature extinction: 1. Population growth > Associated increase in consumption of resources and production of waste > Affluenza > Pollution (pesticides-DDT) – Biomagnification in birds November 19, 2014 Additional causes of premature extinction: 2. Climate change > Too fast for adaptation? http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/whatis.htm November 19, 2014 Additional causes of premature extinction: 3. Overexploitation > Wildlife product > Legitimate trade $10 billion/year, illegal trade $6-10 billion > Increased by poverty November 19, 2014 Additional causes of premature extinction: 4. Killing predators and pests > Elephants > Coyotes, prairie dogs, wolves, bobcats > Can have unintended consequences to other animals that are part of food web and ecosystem 5. Exotic pets and plants > For every live animal captured and sold in market, 50 others are killed November 19, 2014 Case study: Bushmeat-hunted wildlife • Increase in bushmeat trade > Growing population + supply to restaurants > Logging roads = access > Not enough fish • Problem with hunting bushmeat > Local extinction of species > Depletes food for predators > Disease (HIV, ebola) November 19, 2014 How can we protect wild species? • Laws/treaties > International Treaties > ESA (general) > ESA (private landowners) • Sanctuary > Wildlife Refuges > Gene banks/botanical gardens > Zoos and aquariums • Reconciliation Ecology November 19, 2014 International treaties
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